Facing Race: A National Conference in St. Louis, MO — November 20-22, 2024

Branden Lewis

Youth Artistic Coordinator | Saint Louis Story Stitchers Artists Collective
Pronouns: he/his
Story Stitchers’ Youth Artistic Coordinator, is a performing artist, poet, rap artist and songwriter. Lewis is a graduate of Central Visual and Performing Arts High School and is a featured leading artist at Story Stitchers since 2017, leading 75 episodes of StitchCast Studio and performing original work created at Story Stitchers Studios over 500 times at venues across the St. Louis region.

Facebook: Page/Profile
Instagram: @storystitchers/
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Presentations from Facing Race 2024

StitchCast Studio LIVE! Pick the City UP

Saint Louis Story Stitchers is a nationally recognized Artists Collective known for high-quality art and innovative youth violence prevention programs. Our mission is to document Saint Louis through art and word to promote understanding, civic pride, intergenerational relationships, and literacy.

Saint Louis Story Stitchers Artists Collective was founded by eight artists in Old North St. Louis to combat gun violence. Incorporated as a public charity in 2014, Saint Louis Story Stitchers Artists Collective creates a platform for community engagement through an artistic lens to shift perceptions and bring hope to the St. Louis community.

The organization brings together professional artists and youth of color ages 16–25 to create social change, with a focus on gun violence prevention.

Story Stitchers presents "Pick the City UP," a multimedia performance followed by StitchCast Studio LIVE!—a podcast discussion engaging audiences to explore hip hop and creative youth development as changemakers. Pick the City UP is a multi-year signature project which presents free storytelling experiences in a variety of neighborhood venues.

StitchCast Studio is a youth-led podcast addressing gun violence and public health issues while training youth in audio production, interviewing, and public speaking. StitchCast Studio, winner of three National Endowment for the Arts awards, reframes narratives through the voices of Black youth.

Experience the power of Story Stitchers' collaborative art model and learn how you might utilize its principles in your own city or town.

Speakers: Branden Lewis, Emeara Burns, Chris Pendleton